Work-holder for flat-platen type-writers.



No. 813,489. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. e. w. DONNING.

WORK HOLDER FOR FLAT PLATEN TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION rILnn rnn.s,i9om

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. DONNING, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY T. AMBROSE, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

WORK-HOLDER FOR FLAT-PLATEN TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed February 6, 1904. Serial No. 192,403.

To n/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. DONNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and ordinarily then clamped by suitable stationary devices along either or both edges of the platen, and it will be readily understood that when this work is not of a width equal to the width of the platen some means intermediate of the total width of the platen must be utilized to hold the sheet or sheets to be written on flat and in contact with the platen, preferably for the entire length, thereby preventing curling and contacting with movable parts of the machine. This holding or retaining means should be adjustable over the surface of the platen to permit papers of different widths or lengths to be used and held. In practice I- have found it desirable to have this clamping or holding means disposed intermediate of the usual stationary paperclamps situated along or adjusted to the sides of the platen and capable of being movable up and down with reference to the surface of the platen to permit the ready removal or renewal of the paper to be printed on, and to this end I preferably employ a flexible tape or cord held at one end by a suitable tension device, preferably capable of lateral adjustment to maintain it taut across the face of the platen, and at its opposite end attached by a slidable vertically-movable catch to permit the raising vertically of the tape away from the platen-surface and at the same time be moved along the surface of the platen laterally temporarily to position the tape to one side and above the same clear of the work, and in addition the combined mechanism has a movement from side to side of the platen to accommodate any width of paper. The catch in addition to permitting the independent lateral and vertical ad justment of one end of the tape is to be so constructed as to maintain such tape end at 'the desired point of lateral and vertical adjustment. In this way both hands of the operator are left free to position the paper.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 1 a perspective view of a fiat platen or writing surface equipped with my improved workholder. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the front adjustable tape-holding device, showing the same in full lines in its normal position and in dotted lines raised. Fig. 3 is .a view of the same in perspective. Fig. 4

shows the tape-holder attached to a part of i the machine other than the platen; and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the springactuated tape-carrier, showing a portion of the tape attached thereto.

In referring to the drawings, A designates the platen of a flat-platen commercial writing-machine detached from its supporting table and with all the writing mechanism and its supports removed for clearer illustration of my invention. A flexible tape B,

5 preferably of woven fabric, is attached to the rear of the platen, preferably by means of a spool O, actuated by internal spring O and slidably mounted on a rod D, disposed transverse of the draft of the tape B and below the level of the surface of the platen A in the same manner as set forth in my pending application for patent, Serial No. 142,788, filed February 10, 1903. As in said patent the spool O is hollow, so as to receive the coiled spring O, one end of which is secured to the inner surface of the spool and the other end to a core K, which is mounted for longitudinal movement only on rod D by means of a groove D and pin K. It is to be understood that the tape B is extended across the platen and attached 'to a vertically-sliding pin E, provided with a handle or head E and mounted through bearings f f in a bracket F, having forwardly-projecting arms f and f to embrace the forward edge of the. platen A or other supporting part. As will be readily understood, the pin E may be moved up or down in its bearings in the bracket and will carry with it the flexible tape B to raise it from the platen-surface or depress it to cause it to lie against the surface of the platen or any paper or material which may lie thereon. As the bracket F has only a loose engagement with the platen or other support, it may be moved back and forth along the edge thereof to locate the tape at any desired place, or the bracket may be detached altogether from the platen. The spring-actu ated spool C, to which the rear end of the tape is attached, keeps the tape tensioned when in operative position. Under ordinary circumstances the pull or draft of the spring-tensioned tape B will cause suflicient friction between the vertically-moving pin E and its hearings on the bracket to retain it in any position to which it may be moved; but to insure its retention in any desired position I preferably interpose betweenthe pin E and the bracket F a spring G, made practically V-shaped, with its apex recessed at f 3 to embrace and bear against the pin E and having its two free outwardly-extending ends disposed to rest against the face f of the bracket, as shown particularly in Fig. 3.

It is to be understood that, if desirable, I may place more than one of these devices on a machine and position them transversely or longitudinally of the platen or work without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In certain instances it may be found convenient or desirable to attach the tape-holder to some part of the machine other than the platen. In Fig. 4 I have shown in a fragmentary view this adjustable tape-holder mounted on a bar II, parallel with and in the same plane with the platen, and this bar may be a part of a track-frame or an auxiliary bar attached to the table or frame of the machine.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a flat-platen type-writer, the combination with the flat platen thereof; of a flexible paperclam adapted to be disposed across the flat platen, a holder laterally adjustable with reference to the platen, and a vertically-adjustable pin carried by the holder and carrying one end of the clamp.

2. In a flat-platen type-writer, the combination with the flat platen thereof; of a flexible paperclamp adapted to be disposed across the flat laten, a bracket having clips permitting its ateral adjustment with reference to the platen while retaining it in one horizontal plane, and a vertically-slidable member mounted in the holder and carrying one end of the clamp.

3. The combination with the flat platen of a type-writer of a flexible paper-clamp adapted to be disposed across the flat platen, of a clip having forwardly-projecting horizontal spaced arms constructed to embrace the edge of the platen and rearwardly-projecting horizontal spaced arms provided with upright perforations, of a pin slid able in said perforations and carrying one end of said clamp, and of means for retaining the pin at any one of a plurality of elevations. I

4. In a flat-platen writing-machine, the combination with the flat laten thereof; of a tensioned paper-holding 0 amp adapted to be disposed across the platen, a vertically-adjustable friction-retained. carrier for one end of the clamp, and a vertical bearing in which said carrier slides and is maintained at vary ing elevations by the tension of the clamp.

5. In a flat-platen writing-machine, the combination with the flat platen thereof; of a flexible spring-actuated paper-holding tape passing across the platen, a vertically-adjustable friction-retained carrier for one end of the tape, and a holder in which the carrier is maintained at varying elevations by the tension of the tape.

6. In a flat-platen type-writer, the combination with the flat platen thereof; of a flexible paper-clamp elastic in the direction of its length and adapted to be disposed across the flat platen, means supporting one end of the clamp, an adjustable device carrying the other end of the clamp, and an upright bearing in which said adjustable device slides.

7. In a flat-platen ty e-writer, the combination with the flat p aten thereof, and a jflexible paper-clamp elastic in the direction 1' of its length dis osed across the platen; of a Emember lateral y adjustable with reference to the platen carrying one end of the clamp,

a device adjustable up or down carrying the otherend of the clamp, and an upright laterally-adjustable bearing in which said device 8. In a flat laten type-writer, the combination with t e fiat platen thereof, and a flexible paper-clamp elastic in the direction of its length and adapted to be disposed across the flat platen; of means supporting one end of the clamp, an adjustable device carrying the other end of the clamp, an upright bearing in which said device slides, and means for retaining said device at its several elevations.

9. In a flat-platen type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen thereof; of a tensioned paper-holding clamp disposed across the platen, a holder having an upright bearing, and a device carrying one end of the clamp and retained by the tension thereof at varying elevations in said bearing.

10. In a flat-platen type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen thereof, and a tensioned paper-holding clamp adapted to be disposed. across the flat platen; of a holder having an upright bearing, a device carrying one end of the clamp and slidable in said bearing, and a resilient retaining member bearing against the side of said device at the several elevations thereof with sufficient force to maintain the device at each elevation.

11. In a flat-platen type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen thereof, and a tensioned paper-holding clamp adapted to be disposed across the flat platen; of a holderhaving upright bearings, a device carrying one end of the clamp and slidable in said bearings, and a resilient retaining device between the bearings bearing against the side of the device at the several elevations thereof with sufficient force to maintain the device at each elevation.

12. In a flat-platen type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen thereof, and a tensioned paper-holding clamp adapted to be disposed across the flat platen; of a holder having an upright bearing, a device carrying one end of the clamp and slidable in said bearing, and a V-shaped spring having its apex recessed and bearing against said de vice at the several elevations thereof with sufiicient force to maintain the device at each elevation.

13. In a fiat-platen type-writer, the combination with the flat platen thereof, and a flexible paperclamp disposed across the platen; of a horizontal rod at one edge of the platen, and a spring-actuated spool thereon carrying one end of said clamp and maintaining the latter under tension; and of a device adjustable up or down carrying the other end of the clamp, and an upright bearing in which said device slides.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. DONNING.

Witnesses:

ANDREW W. STEIGER, JOHN R. WILTsm; 

